Islamabad: Japan is preparing to open its doors to a larger number of skilled professionals from Pakistan, with officials indicating a significant rise in demand for such workers in the coming years.
In a notable development, Japanese company PlusW Inc., which has played a pivotal role in connecting Pakistani talent with Japan’s labor market, has renewed its partnership with Pakistan’s Overseas Employment Corporation (OEC).
This renewed agreement was formalized during the ‘Pakistan-Japan Human Resources Stakeholders Meeting’ held on Friday.
As part of the agreement, the existing Special Skilled Worker (SSW) program—originally concentrated on the IT industry—has now been extended to cover 14 additional fields.
These include key sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, construction, and hospitality.
The expansion aims to better align Pakistan’s growing pool of professionals with Japan’s evolving workforce requirements.
Naseer Khan Kashani, the Managing Director of OEC who signed the updated Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), highlighted the importance of the program’s growth.
He emphasized that this initiative is instrumental in creating employment opportunities for Pakistani youth on the international stage.
Wakak Sakurai, the CEO of PlusW Inc., shared insights into Japan’s workforce challenges, noting that the country will need around 820,000 specialized workers by the year 2028.
At present, there is a shortage of more than 525,000 skilled positions. She pointed out that demand spans across 16 key sectors, suggesting strong opportunities for Pakistani professionals across various industries.
Japan’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Akamatsu, echoed these sentiments, stating that the inclusion of Pakistani talent in the Japanese workforce will not only help meet labor demands but also enhance bilateral ties and mutual cooperation.
Pakistani IT experts have already begun making their mark in Japan’s technology industry, especially in the realm of offshore development.
Companies such as PlusW, Japan Station, and Komatsu Pakistan Soft are at the forefront of this movement, and additional firms are showing interest in entering the Japanese market.
For Pakistani workers, employment in Japan offers more than just competitive salaries—it also provides a valuable opportunity to gain exposure to advanced technologies and international business standards.
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From the Japanese perspective, ongoing improvements in Pakistan’s business environment are seen as key to sustaining and expanding this cooperation.
Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis, Chaudhry Salik Hussain, underscored the importance of strengthening ties between Pakistan and Japan to promote professional mobility.
In support of this, Minister for Information Technology, Shaza Fatima, praised the accomplishments of Pakistani companies at Japan IT Week in Tokyo, where 15 firms secured contracts worth over $600,000.
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These developments highlight the growing potential of Pakistan-Japan collaboration in both human resource development and technology.
